Kimkim Trip Reviews for Scotland

Very comfortable and spacious rooms. It's a bit far away from some of the main tourist sites but we were able to walk everywhere. Breakfast was good. Bar was ok. One of the bartenders was rude and refused to make us a martini. The next night the bar manager was there and did make us one, but would not do so according to our specifications. He insisted he had his own secret recipe and that we would love. But we really didn't love it and would have preferred the simpler version that we requested.

Convenient location right on the edge of the tourist section. We experienced some problems though - including sidewalk and road work happening right outside the front door, which made foot and car traffic tricky. The air conditioning in the hotel rooms couldn't keep up with the summer heat, so two of our 4 rooms were unbearably hot at night. Also, two of our rooms on the back side of the hotel experienced terrible noise all night long from the homeless population that were camped out behind their rooms. They got no sleep! We were told at the front desk that they had security who would run off the homeless people if they bothered anyone, but we didn't know to ask them to do that until it was too late. Seems like if they know it's a problem for guests they would take care of it proactively. We would not stay there again and would not recommend it to anyone.

We loved this hotel and was within walking distance of most things in Killarney. It was beautifully appointed and so comfortable. Staff were gracious and so helpful. We loved the restaurant and especially the bar. They made the best martinis we had in Ireland.

This was a great activity for our family of 11, ranging in age from 73 to 7. Everyone got to handle the birds, and we learned so much about them.

Our guide, Amanda, went above and beyond. We were not expecting her beautiful musical performance, but enjoyed it so much.

Our driver, Steven, was outstanding. He tailored the tour to suit our family so well. We couldn't have been happier.

Really modern, great location right beside the Loch with a private beach

Helpful staff and a great location

Good location with excellent views

We arrived at the end of shopping week in Stromness and had a good time mingling with the locals

Hotel and staff were great. Location was excellent for getting in and out of the city

We had a tour with Ebenezar to Skara Brae, it was incredible. . The best thing was his knowledge and passion of the area. Cannot recommend him highly enough

Nice big room and bathroom. Very good location and nice breakfast. Very friendly and helpful staff. Good value.

We were on the top floor from what appears to be a transformed attic. No elevator, but we got help with luggage. The ceilings in the room were sloped on both sides so you really had to watch out to bump your head everywhere. No shower, no hot water. For Ireland, very weak breakfast

Nice large room and bathroom. Good breakfast. The front desk woman was not friendly or helpful. No elevator and no one to assist getting luggage up a flight and a half of stairs. The breakfast was good and the waiter was very friendly. Note: there isn't any dinner options at the hotel. You need to go to the sister hotel, where they provide transportation (about a 10 min drive). The meal and service is excellent but it is a prefix menu and it's pricey (about 100 pounds per person with drinks).

Nice hotel, good location. There were elevators but you still had to take stairs which defeated the purpose of having an elevator for luggage. Also, it wasn't obvious that there was a ramp to enter the hotel so we also took a flight of stairs with the luggage...and there wasn't anyone to help. Breakfast was good, with a made to order hot entree.

We aren't whisky drinkers but "when in Scotland" we really wanted to have a tour and not just a tasting. Our guide was excellent, the tour was really interesting, the facilities very nice and the tasting (which was the minor part of the excursion) was very nicely done. This is a boutique distillery and it was a curated experience, which we loved.

This is such a unique experience and it's really worth it. The man who owns the dogs was super nice and patient. He also had some "hairy coos" which was a bonus. We all really had fun.

It's a self guided excursion but well worth the visit. I've been to a lot of castles but nothing like Edinburgh. It's basically a city vs a single building.

It is wonderful. It is a must place to visit in Edinburgh

Very interesting . The guide was very good.

I loved it. Highly recommended

Rick was a wonderful guide. We had a great time.

Terrific experience learning about Scotch whiskey production. Izzie is a great guide!

Our guide was knowledgeable and complete!

We loved that we could skipthe line because we had tickets and the guidebook is a great souvenir!

Amazing hotel! Beautiful rooms and perfect location. The breakfast was fantastic.

Loved this hotel, but had to walk up several flights of stairs, which was a bit difficult for my Mom, who is 88. Otherwise, beautiful location, clean, updated, great breakfast.

The location was amazing. The hotel was old and in need of some updates, but it was clean and worked out well for us. The breakfast was mediocre, but we loved the sitting room in the front of the hotel which overlooked the water.

Nice tour...a little too long and the Scotch as not as good as others we tried.

This was a bit commercial. The castle was very nice.

Amazing tour. Beautiful scenery.

Wonderful tour! The highlight of our trip. Well organized, beautiful views.

This is a truly exceptional hotel! The lobby is absolutely gorgeous, the room was massive and elegant, and the hotel and wait staff could not have been more gracious and helpful. I could not give a higher recommendation for this hotel!

The food and drinks on this tour were fabulous, and each stop presented a unique view of Glasgow. However, the true highlight of the tour was Megan, our tour guide. Megan was full of personality and highly knowledgeable about the venues, the food, and Glasgow in general. She made the tour a very enjoyable experience for all of us.

Really nice family owned inn. Rooms were super clean with great Scottish plaid decorating and clean and cool bathrooms. They got up 30 min early to get us breakfast before our flight out. Really fresh and yummy breakfast.

Wonderful staff from the moment we walked in (with a champagne toast). Superb made to order breakfast. Whole inn was incredible. Cozy and comfortable room with amazing views! Can’t say enough positive!! Quiet and peaceful!

What a special treat! Excellent view of the water. Comfortable beds. Clean house. Nice to have all en suite bathrooms and laundry!

Excellent location, fabulous breakfast (best of our trip), free mini bar, great rooms (but no view). One staff member in the bar was very unpleasant on more than one occasion but all other service was great!

Excellent location, friendly staff, nice breakfast, lobby was great! Room was small with no view.

Such a cool distillery. So much history. And loved that they stressed “to go” bottles to avoid drinking and drinking. Got to take home three samples and a Dalwhinnie glass to enjoy at home.

Gareth was very knowledgeable. We loved his stories! Learned so much in our three hours with him. Best way to start our time in Edinburgh

Best experience enhanced by having Guy walk us through and sharing his knowledge and passion. I think the audio guide would have been good but we were fortunate to have a special tour!

Guy was amazing! So much energy and so knowledgeable. He was extremely interested in the history and economics of London. We felt so fortunate to spend the morning learning and laughing with him!

The accommodations at the Dungallen Country House was delightful. The staff was so helpful, breakfast was lovely and when we asked for lunch to take with us, it was ready when we were leaving. Gorgeous setting!

Leonardo City Edinburgh was in a convenient location, as we could easily walk or Uber to the old town. The building was previously used as a maternity hospital, which I loved very much. However, the hotel itself was a bit on the dirty side, which was a little bit disappointing.

Knipoch Hotel was one of our favorite accommodations. Located outside Oban, it perfectly captured the essence of the place. The dining experience at the hotel was excellent, with lovely meals and a great breakfast. It provided a splendid sense of comfort after long drives during our trip.

We were very pleased with Balmoral Arms. The hotel had a charming sense of the local culture and offered excellent dining options. It was a nice place to relax after a day of exploration.

The Coolin View in Portree on the Isle of Skye did not meet our expectations. Although the view from the hotel was stunning, with picturesque views of colorful buildings on the water, the room itself was lacking. The bathroom was small, with a loud on-demand hot water system that was quite disruptive. It was not as comfortable as we had hoped.

The Isles Of Glencoe Hotel was nice and modern, and though our stay was short, it was quite enjoyable. It seemed like a great spot for those into outdoor activities, with bikes and kayaks available for rent.

We had a wonderful stay at the Cairngorm Hotel in Aviemore. The room was fine, but what really made our stay memorable was the bar with live music almost every night. We really enjoyed ourselves, especially because we stayed there for a couple of nights.

The Oban Distillery Tour was a lovely experience. As someone who only wanted to visit one distillery, Oban was a perfect choice given its history. It was educational and enjoyable, and one distillery tour was just right for us.

The Orkney Food & Drink Tour was interesting, but perhaps not the best choice for Orkney itself due to its small size. Our guide tried her best, and we did sample some local goods like soup and crackers, but it might have been better to focus on Orkney's history tours instead.

The History Lovers Old Town Walking Tour in Edinburgh was really enjoyable. Our guide, possibly named Shannon, did an excellent job, and we learned so much. It was a great experience.

Afternoon Tea at Edinburgh Castle was such a special experience. We enjoyed it immensely, probably even more than the castle tour itself. It was a delightful treat!

The tour at Stirling Castle was fantastic. We loved the historical aspect and the richness of the castle itself. I only wish we had stayed in Stirling to explore the town more. It's definitely a place worth spending more time in.

We absolutely loved the visit to Fingal's Cave! Although the journey was long with bus and ferry rides, the hour we spent at the cave was well worth it. The columnar basalts were stunning, and seeing the puffins was an incredible bonus. This was the highlight of the day, despite traveling to other locations.

Awkward location, no valet, nowhere to park.

One of the best hotels we have ever experienced.

Looks great, seems understaffed. Dusty, old, needs a deep cleaning, maybe replace some carpets. My sense was that they think they are better than they are, staff are pretentious. The menu is very different, only ate there once but wouldn’t recommend the dining room.

Staff excellent. Parking is a problem with construction and loss of land to an adjacent development.

Very interesting.

We could have done this walkabout on our own.

This location is off the beaten path but an important part of our trip because of family connections. We were pleased to see a photo of our great grandfather in the wall of the cafe!

Our guide was passionate, knowledgeable and a pleasure to be with.

This was the perfect location to end our trip. In the heart of Edinburgh's newtown it is right on St. Andrews Square, next to the tram, and easy walking to lots of shops, restaurants, and attractions. The hotel set up is funky and so are the rooms, but they were clean and comfortable.

This is a chain hotel. It was clean and comfortable, but not memorable. I think this was more of a business hotel than tourist hotel. Their on-site parking is a very small lot and probably one of the most traumatic driving experiences of our time in Scotland. Long car in narrow garage--not a great combination. We did not need the car for the days we were there.

The rooms here are cozy with not a great deal of extra space and the lack of an elevator makes getting things up and down a bit of a challenge, but what do you expect in a hotel with only nine rooms. The staff are all helpful, friendly, and outstanding.

I cannot say enough about Taransay House. The owners and their son, the chef, are charming people. They welcomed us with a dram of whisky and throughout our stay did everyting they could and more to make us comfortable. The rooms are modern and comfortable with a beautiful view of the water. Our stay here included dinner and the food for both breakfast and dinner was outstanding.

This is a wonderful place to stay just outside of Inverness. The Baronial House is grand and the staff is wonderful. Rooms are of a good size and comfortable buy unique. The shared lounge is a great place to meet and talk with other guests. The staff work very hard to be accommodating. Breakfast was wonderful.

It is a nice small hotel. It is a bit tired, but it was clean and the staff was helpful. It is an easy walk to the grassmarket and old town.

I was not sure why we were doing this, but I am glad we did. The Kepies are two statues built in the Scottish countryside. It is worth it to take the tour to get the history of the statues and to have the chance to stand inside one of them. The guide was great and helped us understand why these beautiful statues were there.

This is what you think of when you think of a castle. It is a beautiful location and a wonderful tour with knowlegeable guides. You get the entire history of the castle and there is a lot to see.

We asked for this to be added to our intinerary and I am so glad we did. Soul Sisters Cafe is a non-profit that provides meals to the homeless, hungry, and paying customers and trains immigrant women in Glasgow. Their food style is mainly middle eastern, but they did scones for us. We started with a wonderful lunch followed by the class. However, as we talked with the ladies in the cafe, the continued to show us and share things with us. I really want to learn how to make the stuffed Algerian flatbread they made. By the time we left, we felt like part of the family.

The group was a bit large, but the guide was informative and entertaining. He truly loves Glasgow and has the attitudes and accent of a real Glaswegian. With a large group you spend more time moving than talking, but still very worthwhile.

This was the best distillery tour of the four we took. They provided all sorts of extra information and instead of tasting everything at the end, they give you drams to try throughout the tour. It is amazing to see how the town grew around the distillery and leaves them no room for expansion. Drivers and non-drinkers take homes are provided. Like many places, you get a discount in the shop for taking the tour. I celebrated by bottling my own bottle of whisky which I had to register, sign, bottle, and seal, plus it is a single barrel, really good whisky.

This is a nice way to see the islands and to get out to the Island of Staffa. However, the rest of the trip is a bit of a let down. You only drive across the Isle of Mull without stops. There is a combination of driver commentary and canned commentary that is interesting. The detour to Staffa is wonderful. We were unable to land on the island due to construction, but we did see all the major sites and were there when the puffins were there. Iona is a sweet little island, but it does not require more than two hours. Other than the Abbey and a couple of shops there is very little. We walked a good deal of the island. The ferry rides were fine.

This is one of the meals and experiences I will always remember. The seven course tasting menu was fantastic and they were able to adapt to our dietary needs. I am not one who usually takes pictures of my food, but it was so good and so beautiful that I had to. The service was elegant, efficient, and friendly.

We did a number of distillery tours on this trip. Talisker is a very slick and well put together presentation. I did not personally feel very engaged. The tasting offered three drams and take home bottles for drivers or non-drinkers.

Urquhart Castle was very interesting and it is worth walking up to the visitors' center to see the short movie. The staff in and around the ruins are happy to talk and answer questions. The boat ride is exactly that, a boat ride. There was commentary being played, but it was hard to hear over people. It is a nice way to get to the castle, but I would not race out to do it again.

We saw five different areas in Cairngorms National Park. I was not sure what I was expecting, but the tour and guide were great. We hand the chance to see reindeer, osprey, and to meet two hairy coos up close. The guide is outstanding and I learned more than I could ever remember.

Rhona is a wealth of knowledge and she helped explain the battle of Culloden and its impact on Scotland and the UK. She loves this history and it is clear from the tour.

Beautiful "castle". Not a castle like Edinburgh or Sterling, but worth a visit. We did not have enough time to spend in the garden, but they looked lovely.

The guides here are wonderful. Make sure to stay and ask questions at the end to get a real feel for the guide and the castle. The work and restoration that is being done is remarkable. Make sure you make it to the "living" exhibits with period dressed docents. They add a great deal to what you see and learn.

This is a bit touristy, but still worth the visit. It is amazing to learn about the history of the city and how people lived. I could have used less focus on ghosts and such and more history.

Gareth was a wealth of knowledge and he shared history, politics, and a whole variety of information. He was engaging and tweaked the tour to our needs and wants.

One of the nicest places I've ever stayed, and I've travelled all over the world. Warm, old-world elegance; friendly staff, choice of 3 lovely lounges. Didn't care for the loud music being played in two of them and the lobby, but one lounge was kept as a quiet space, so I survived. A dog-friendly establishment and was delighted to meet the desk clerk's dog on one occasion. We were leaving early, so they packed us a bag breakfast. There is a nature-trail area across the street, and Loch Lomond is just across the street. The road it's on is a bit busy, but wasn't a problem. We elected to eat in a lovely former church down the street about half a kilometer, called 'Kirk o' the lochs'. Nice decor and good food to be found there.

Arrived 5:00 pm. Were made welcome. Rooms and amenities were fine, but we were leaving early in the morning, so we didn't have a chance to sample food. They put together a bag breakfast for us to take on the road, so we were impressed.

Rooms were comfortable. Breakfast dining room staff were great, and the food was excellent. However, in a separate dining room for supper, the service was terrible. Bored teenagers waiting on us; waited 20 minutes to be noticed and then had to walk over to the counter and ask for a menu. After that another staff person came and told us that they only had 2 cooks on that night, so we would have to wait about a half hour for our food. Not impressed.

Nice rooms, Victorian decor, friendly staff, good food. However, in the four days we were there, they didn't clean our room. A bit unusual, but we didn't suffer for it. Also, guests should be aware this is a 'no alcohol' hotel. Meals in the dining room are a bit expensive, but there are other restaurants, take-away places, and a grocery store within a couple of blocks for cheaper options.

This was one of the true highlights of the trip. Jimmy was our host, and he has a very small boat; can only take 3 guests, so it is very up-close and personal. Jimmy was very friendly and was a fountain of knowledge about the area. He asked what we wanted to see and took us to places to see it. We saw castles, seals, and numerous kind of seabirds. By the end of the tour, it felt like we were just friends out on a boat together. The only thing was that I was expecting a larger tour boat, and he was off to the side of the marina, so it was a bit of a challenge to find him. However, it was well worth it. I highly recommend hium.